Too Bad About Mrs. Ferri

It's not every child you run into who grew up next-door to a big-shot comedian, and whose parents had no qualms about making demands in a mob restaurant, with the owner (and friends) present. August Kleinzahler was one of these, however. The way he makes his experiences seem genuinely eight-year-old-ish is through the content of his memories, as well as the fact that he doesn't try and make it look as if he knew better than he did at the time. No eight-year-old would. For example, when Mr. Anastasia, August's friend's dad, and a local mob capo, gets assinated, Augusts' mother tells him that Mr. Anastasia "got very, very sick" and that "Gloriana and her mommy are to have to go away for a while." Also, a lot of what is often remembered is what other people, usually older than he is, are telling him. For example, when his mother informs him of Mr. Anastasia's "illness", or when Buddy Hackett told him "Fuck you, kid; talk to my agent." He has many memories of people talking to him, but not many of him speaking, Buddy Hackett episode excluded. This is probably true of most people, because when you're a kid, up to a certain age, most of what goes on in your world either happens in your head, or is your observation of something else. You might comment on your observations to those present, but your not usually articulate enough for it to make much sense.